The Montessori Method
The Montessori Method is an innovative, child-centered approach to education, developed a century ago by a woman ahead of her time.
Working with institutionalized and inner-city youngsters, Dr. Maria Montessori was struck by how avidly the children absorbed knowledge from their surroundings. Given developmentally appropriate materials and the freedom to follow their interests, they joyfully taught themselves.
The goal of Montessori education is to foster a child’s natural inclination to learn. Montessori teachers guide rather than instruct, linking each student with activities that meet his interests, needs, and developmental level. The classroom is designed to allow movement and collaboration, as it also promotes concentration and a sense of order.
Unique learning materials beckon from accessible shelves, inviting small hands to take on new challenges, 1 concept or skill at a time.
It is a view of the child as one who is naturally eager for knowledge and capable of initiating learning in a supportive, thoughtfully prepared learning environment. It is an approach that values the human spirit and the development of the whole child—physical, social, emotional, cognitive.
Maria Montessori
Montessori education dates back to 1907, when Maria Montessori opened the Casa dei Bambini, or Children’s House, in a low-income district of Rome. Her unique philosophy sparked the interest of educators worldwide, and in the following decades Montessori schools opened throughout Europe, in North and South America, and, finally, on every continent but Antarctica.
Countless books and articles about Montessori have been published in nearly every language. Dr. Montessori first described her approach in "Il Metodo della Pedagogia Scientifica applicato all’educazione infantile nelle Case dei Bambini", published in 1909. The book’s English-language version, succinctly titled The Montessori Method, was a huge success on both sides of the Atlantic.
